Kids are quick to observe any contradiction
between what their parents say and what they do.
Despite what you might think,
most kids say that the adult
whom they most want to be like when they grow up
is a parent.

If you're a smoker:

• First, admit to your child that you made a mistake by starting to smoke & if you had to do over again, you'd never start.
  
  
• Second, quit. It may take several attempts
  and you may need the extra help of a support group.
  But your child will be encouraged as he or she sees you overcome your addiction to tobacco.
  
  

What smoking can do

Usual suspects:

Kills you when you are too young
Smelly hair & clothing.
Yellow fingers & teeth
Bad breath - not kissable
No taste - icecream may as well be cardboard
Lung, throat & mouth cancers - check out the pics on packs.
Stroke or heart attack - makes you very sick or DEAD.

'Light, filtered, low tar etc is no protection'

What happens when
you stop

Good stuff:

The body starts immediately to repair itself.
Addictive nicotine leaves the body in 2 hours
Poisonous carbon monoxide effects go after half a day.
Blood flow improvements take about 2 months.
Lung repairs can take 3 months to get underway.

How to get started
on stopping

Decide to really stop, pick a day & do it ... again if necessary!
Get rid of all cigarettes
Get support info from a doctor or chemist.
Avoid temptation situations, e.g. certain mates, pub, etc.


The 4D distraction plan:

Delay a few minutes, hours, day ... before opening cig pack
Deep breaths
Drink lots of water
Do something different, read a book, take up new hobby ...

Say NO and repeat it
Pretend that you have not heard the group's suggestions
Laugh at the suggestions as if they were a joke
Speak clearly and suggest that you have a 'better idea'
Say that you do not have the time to listen
Go away and leave them.

Smoking is very expensive and hard to buy as a child!
For kids, it is a great dent in pocket money.

It may take you a few times to totally give up, but keep persevering.

If your withdrawal symptoms are bad, you can get short term help
with nicotine patches or nicotine chewing gum.
(Both available from any pharmacy.)

If you need someone to talk to and help.....
Quitline: phone:131 848. 24 hour help, 7 days a week.

Helpful ideas:
What's in a cigarette & reasons never to start!

There are 4000 chemicals in cigarettes including 43 known carcinogens or cancer causing agents.

Some of the chemicals in cigarette and cigarette smoke are:

• Carbon monoxide (as in car exhaust)
• Ammonia (a common household cleaning agent)
• Formaldehyde (active agent in preserving the dead)
• Radioactive compounds (polonium-210 & potassium-40)
• Acetone (active agent in nail-polish remover)
• Naphthelene (active agent in mothballs)
• Phenol (active agent in disinfectant)
• Methanol (active agent in rocket fuel)
• Lead & Pesticides
  
• Toluene (active agent in industrial solvent)
  

All Nicotine Replacement Products (NRT) such as lozenges, patches or gum are regulated and do not contain these chemicals and so are a much safer way of taking in nicotine than cigarettes.